XML 26 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2018
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES |
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES | VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES In connection with our sale of the Renewable Assets (Note 6), we have new consolidated and unconsolidated VIEs. CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY Enbridge Canadian Renewable LP (ECRLP) To facilitate the sale on August 1, 2018, we and our subsidiaries transferred our Canadian renewable assets to a newly formed partnership, ECRLP. Subsequently, a 49% interest in ECRLP was sold to CPPIB. ECRLP is a VIE as its limited partners do not have substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. Because we have the power to direct the activities of ECRLP, we are exposed to potential losses, and we have the right to receive benefits from ECRLP, we are considered the primary beneficiary. We consolidate the VIE because of our indirect controlling financial interest in the VIE. As at September 30, 2018, the carrying amounts of total assets and liabilities of ECRLP on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position were $2.1 billion and $45 million, respectively. The creditors of the VIE do not have recourse to our general credit, other than through nominal assets of the holding company with the general partnership interest. We did not provide any additional financial support to ECRLP during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. UNCONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY Enbridge Renewable Infrastructure Investments S.a.r.l. (ERII) To facilitate the sale on August 1, 2018, we transferred our interest in the Hohe See Offshore wind farm and its subsequent expansion to a newly formed partnership, ERII. Subsequently, a 49% interest in ERII was sold to CPPIB. ERII is a VIE due to insufficient equity at risk to finance its activities. We are not the primary beneficiary of ERII since the power to direct the activities of ERII that most significantly impact its economic performance is shared. We account for ERII by using the equity method as we retain significant influence through a 51% voting interest in substantive decisions. ERII has a carrying value of $118 million (€79 million) at September 30, 2018, within Long-term investments in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Included within Deferred amounts and other assets in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at September 30, 2018, is a long-term receivable of $416 million (€277 million) relating to our loan to a consolidated subsidiary of ERII. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with ERII is $534 million (€356 million), which is equal to the long-term investment carrying value plus the outstanding receivable discussed above. OTHER Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC Spectra Energy Partners, LP (SEP) owns a 50% interest in Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC (Sabal Trail), a joint venture that operates a pipeline originating in Alabama that transports natural gas to Florida and has been classified as a variable interest entity. On April 30, 2018, Sabal Trail issued US$500 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.246% senior notes due in 2028, US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.682% senior notes due in 2038 and US$400 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.832% senior notes due in 2048. Sabal Trail distributed net proceeds from the offering to the members as a partial reimbursement of construction and development costs incurred by the members. The net distribution made to SEP was US$744 million and was used to pay down indebtedness and is included within Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. These events triggered reconsideration and as a result, it was concluded that Sabal Trail was no longer a VIE as at June 30, 2018 due to sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | enb_VariableInterestEntityDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | enb_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for a variable interest entity (VIE), including but not limited to, judgments and assumptions in determining whether to consolidate and in identifying the primary beneficiary, gain (loss) recognized on the initial consolidation of the VIE, terms of arrangements, amounts and classification of the VIE's assets and liabilities, and the entity's maximum exposure to loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration